[ARSCLIST] Need help understanding how to get an Important Folk Music collection Accessible

[Steve Ramm <Stevramm@xxxxxxx>]

Hi all! I know many archivists are on the list so I figured this the best  
place to get the answer.
 
This weekend at the Philly Folk Festival I became involved in a discussion  
with Rochelle Goldstein, the widow of Ken (or Dr. Kenneth) Goldstein who  
produced many important Lps from field recordings he made. It seems that his  paper 
collection was readily accepted by the University of Mississippi after his  
death.
 
But there were reels and reels of important and vital sound recordings that  
his family still had and - because the papers went to Mississippi, they 
donated  the recordings as well, hoping that they would be accessible.
 
These recordings need to be preserved and a researcher (I don't have  
details) was able to get an NEA grant to digitalize them before they  deteriorate. He 
contacted the University and was told that there could be no  access to the 
tapes. Rochelle tried as well but she was told that they were "not  
accessionable". Of course she is upset that her late husband's years of work  will turn 
to dust and not be able to be used. When I joined the discussion there  was 
talk of "hiring a good attorney to gain access". I suggested that there was  
probably another way to deal with this and ARSC members would be the ones to  
help. 
 
So if anyone has ideas or suggestions, please email me at 
_Stevenramm@xxxxxxxx (mailto:Stevenramm@xxxxxxx) , or if you post the  reply to ARSClist, please, 
cc me at that address and I'll forward to  Rochelle.
 
Thanks for your help!
 
Steve Ramm